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Marketing Tips From a Lemonade Stand

Posted on 07/09/2012

Summer is heating up and with it we are in a constant search to find ways to beat the heat. For years, little entrepreneurs everywhere have tried to do their part in the dog days of summer by opening their own lemonade stands. How could you resist their sweet faces, low prices and of course, the refreshing drinks? But once you look past those adorable faces, there’s something to be said about their marketing tactics. After all, you’re never too old to learn something from a child. They’re full of simplistic approaches to life that we often overlook because of our hectic lives. So stop and take some advice from some young people who are at the root of what marketing is all about.

Just Give It Away
It’s not exactly a smart business move to give away your product. If you give away all of your lemonade, you aren’t going to make a profit. But the great thing about kids is that they don’t care as much about making money, they just care about making people happy. And when that’s your first priority, people will want to give you money anyway. So what can your company offer for free that’ll get you noticed? Statistics show that free samples in the grocery store aisles move products off the shelves. Think of unique ways to offer free samples of what your business has to offer. And, like the wee ones, make people happy with great service and customers will come back for more.

Never Give Up
When kids want something, they really want it. There’s something inside of them that tells them they can’t give up. Many times as an adult, we tend to lose sight of that mentality. Even if nobody comes to the lemonade stand one day, kids will get back out there and try again until they succeed. We should all harness our inner-child when it comes to the go-getter attitude. So go ahead and pursue your customers and prospects with the ‘never give up’ mentality.

Tell the World
As a kid, you probably wanted everybody to know about your lemonade stand so you did whatever it took to bring in customers. You called neighbors, told friends and advertised around town. That spirit is admirable, especially for marketers. You’ve got to tell everyone you meet about your latest venture. And if you have a great product, people will spread the word for you just like they did for the kid at the lemonade stand. Networking is a key component of marketing, and you should go for it just like you did as a child.

Make it Special
At a child’s lemonade stand, each cup is made with love and a smile. It isn’t necessarily about quantity so much as it is about the quality of each glass. Take time to evaluate how much effort goes into the quality of your marketing materials, and your company’s products. Find what makes your products special and get the word out. As a marketer, you know that your company can get an edge over competitors by being unique and providing quality services and products.